Ohio State’s 37–9 win over Ohio wasn’t flawless — two interceptions and a few defensive lapses gave Ryan Day film-room material — but it was more than enough to keep the Buckeyes steady at No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. At 3–0 heading into a bye, Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith are already one of the nation’s most explosive duos, and voters continue to reward Ohio State with the majority of first-place votes.

The real story in Week 4 is how the Big Ten continues to set the tone nationally. Penn State, Oregon, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and USC all appear in the polls, with several putting together statement wins in Week 3. That gives the Big Ten six ranked teams in the AP Top 25 — more than any other league.

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 Week 3 Results Driving the Rankings

• Ohio State (3–0, beat Ohio 37–9): Julian Sayin threw for 347 yards and three TDs, while Jeremiah Smith became the fastest Buckeye to 1,500 career receiving yards.

• Penn State (3–0, beat Villanova 52–6): Drew Allar tossed for 209 yards and two scores as PSU cruised.

• Oregon (3–0, beat Northwestern 34–14): The Ducks’ defense tightened up after halftime, holding NU to just 64 yards in the second half.

• Illinois (3–0, blanked Western Michigan 38–0): Luke Altmyer managed the game efficiently, while the Illini defense forced three turnovers.

• Indiana (3–0, blew out Indiana State 73–0): Fernando Mendoza’s 270 passing yards led a historic rout.

• USC (3–0, beat Purdue 33–17): Ryan Browne threw for 305 yards, with Ja’Kobi Lane going over 100 receiving.

• Georgia (3–0, outlasted Tennessee 44–41 in OT): Joey Aguilar threw for 371 yards in one of the weekend’s best games.

• Miami (3–0, handled South Florida 49–12): Carson Beck continued his strong start with 340 passing yards.

• Texas A&M (3–0, edged Notre Dame 41–40): Marcel Reed threw for 360 yards in the Aggies’ statement win.

Meanwhile, South Carolina, Clemson, and South Florida all dropped out of the AP Top 25 after losses. Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and USC surged in to take their place.

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🏈 Big Ten Snapshot

• Ohio State (3–0): Still No. 1 in both polls, unanimous CFP frontrunner.

• Penn State (3–0): Holding strong at No. 2, quietly dominating.

• Oregon (3–0): Top 6 in both polls, already validating Big Ten expansion.

• Illinois (3–0): Top 10 in both polls, defense looks legit.

• Indiana (3–0): Voters reward their hot start with a Top 20 slot.

• Michigan (2–1): Rebounded with a 63–3 win over CMU, steady in the 20s.

• USC (3–0): AP No. 25, still climbing after handling Purdue.

The Big Ten now has six ranked teams in the AP poll and five in the Coaches Poll.

AP Top 25 – Week 4 (2025)

Dropped out: South Carolina, Clemson, South Florida

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Coaches Poll – Week 4 (2025)

Dropped out: Clemson, South Florida, Arizona State, BYU

Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch